With a little help from Hanson...
With a little help from Hanson Off-Road in the form of bumpers and rock sliders, the unibody Grand Cherokee can literally thrive in the rough stuff. Elevated by Skyjacker's flexy 3-inch short-arm suspension system, we were able to clear a set of 31x10.50/15 Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip tires on factory wheels without issues.
Over the years, Jeep Grand Cherokees have won the affection of soccer moms and wheelers alike. Thanks to a steady production run between 1993 and 1999, the mid-sized Grand Cherokee ZJ, Chrysler's flagship family SUV of the era, took full advantage of the utility and function afforded by lightweight unibody construction. Available with three different powertrains and three separate trim levels, the Grand Cherokee simply fit the lifestyles and budgets of Middle America in the 1990s.
Every ZJ came linked with a coil-spring suspension front and rear, and the aftermarket has responded well to the ZJ's nimble platform, enabling a cult-like following to emerge around it. Today, we see ZJs in all forms of four wheeling, some of which have even spawned respect from the hardcore Jeep purists. For this reason, we felt it was time to highlight how a little aftermarket attention can transform the abundant and affordable ZJ from soccer shuttle to trail tamer in just one-day's time.
Our Take
The Skyjacker 3-inch ZJ suspension system enabled us to fit larger tires without surrendering too much on-road drivability and virtually no sacrifice in ride comfort. The slight increase in elevation was noticeable when driving around corners at speed, but thanks to stiffer shock valving, we didn't feel that the higher center of gravity had an excessively negative effect on overall stability. Sure, it was noticeable, as the vehicle would lean more when driving around a cloverleaf freeway on-ramp, but the underbody ground clearance and ability to soak up bumps on the trail made up for this in our opinion. Off-highway, this kit is a winner. Aside from a more noticeable sound, largely due to the Skyjacker rod ends in place of rubber bushings on each of the link arms, the kit returned massive gains in terms of ride comfort and bump-soaking capability. Where we once lifted a tire and spun the vehicle's open differentials, we now find traction with no drama whatsoever. The larger tires fit the wheelwells perfectly, and thanks to the optional Skyjacker steering upgrades, we feel confident about heading out on the trail without a welder.
Skyjacker supplied us with...
Skyjacker supplied us with a 3-inch suspension system that replaced each of our donor rig's coil springs, as well as all locating arms and all shocks. Additionally, Skyjacker sent us a whole arsenal of optional equipment that complements their kit. Included with theses upgrades were extended sway bar end links that featured quick disconnects for improved articulation on the trail. Also included was an adjustable track bar, a HD steering dampener, and HD replacement tie-rod assembly, which should help to fortify the ZJ's factory steering for the added force of larger tires.
The new coil springs included...
The new coil springs included with the Skyjacker kit elevate the vehicle three inches, thanks to slightly longer coil springs that are made with a thicker diameter.
Here you can see the difference...
Here you can see the difference between the factory stamped link arms and Skyjacker's tubular steel arms. Notice that the Skyjacker arms employ large rod ends at the axle side of the arm; this improves suspension flex by allowing an additional range of unrestricted motion.
Before: This is how the front...
Before: This is how the front suspension of our donor ZJ appeared prior to the install.
After: The bright red coil...
After: The bright red coil springs and link arms make it easy to see where the Skyjacker kit improves upon the factory setup.
To perform this installation,...
To perform this installation, we first secured the vehicle on a lift. Then we removed the wheels and tires for access. Next, the front and rear axles were supported by portable jack stands as shown here. With the weight of the axles supported by the stands and the weight of the vehicle supported by the lift, each of the vehicle's factory link arms mounting bolts could be removed easily with an impact gun and open-end wrench.
With the link arms out of...
With the link arms out of the way, we lifted the vehicle slowly until pressure was released from the front coil springs. Here, you can see one of the new Skyjacker coils as it installed in place of the factory unit. Once the new springs were in place, the new tubular link arms were adjusted to the proper length, then bolted in place of the stock arms.
Installation of the rear portion...
Installation of the rear portion of this kit basically mirrors the front. As you can see from this shot, the same essential parts are replaced out back. Keep in mind that a four-wheel alignment was required following installation.
With the new coil springs...
With the new coil springs and link arms installed, we turned our attention to the replacement shocks and sway bar setup. Shown here is the quick release pin that enables the easy removal of the Skyjacker end links. We like this arrangement because it uses easy-to-replace zinc-plated latch pins-a simple and effective way to retain the links.
The Skyjacker lift system...
The Skyjacker lift system utilizes massive spherical rod ends with steel spacer bushings as seen here for one side of each link arm. The opposite side of each arm uses polyurethane bushings to help dampen road vibrations. This arrangement provides a smooth ride that is capable of articulating much better than the stock arms with rubber bushings at each end. Note that each of the bushing ends requires greasing prior to operation.
We ran our donor Jeep up a...
We ran our donor Jeep up a 20-degree RTI ramp before and after the installation. We were happy to find vast improvements in our RTI scores once completed: 387 for the stock suspension, 442 for the Skyjacker kit with the sway bar connected, and 604 with the sway bar disconnected.